SEXTRA CREDIT

Calif. bill punishes student-teacher dating

Would make such relationships felony, strip educators of pensions

Published: 03/27/2012 at 5:25 PM

(MODESTO BEE) — SACRAMENTO — Assemblywoman Kristin Olsen introduced legislation Tuesday to make it a felony for a K-12 teacher to date a student regardless of age, responding to a high-profile case at a Modesto high school in which the student is an adult.

Olsen, R-Modesto, introduced Assembly Bill 1861 after news broke that Enochs High School teacher James Hooker, 41, had started a relationship with 18-year-old student Jordan Powers. Hooker left his wife, resigned his job and moved in with Powers in February.

“I believe this bill will serve as a deterrent, as a preventative measure,” said Tammie Powers, Jordan’s mother, at a Capitol press conference. “As parents, we send our children to school with the expectation that they’re going to be safe, theyre going to receive a good education. Not that they’re going to be pursued.”